TREATISE OF CJESAR FIASCHI. 445 



farriers {mareschaux) : and yet among these there are some 

 who more frequently think of profit and ease to themselves, 

 than pay any regard to the wants and conveniences of the 

 horses they shoe. So that if the horseman, because of 

 his ignorance, is obliged to submit to the opinion of his 

 mar^.schal, it will very often happen that he will see his 

 horses lamed (enclouez) or badly shod, or otherwise incon- 

 venienced : things due, as we witness every day, to the 

 carelessness, ignorance, or malice of the farriers. Seeing, 

 then, that the hoofs are the parts which support the 

 whole of the body, and consequently bear all its weight, 

 it is all the more necessary that the cavalier should be 

 careful in having them well shod, and, besides, well at- 

 tended to.' 



Chapter II. contains advice as to the colour of the 

 horn, — pour cognoistre la bonte el malice dicelle. ' The 

 black horn is the best.' 



Chapter III. treats of the differences between the fore 

 and hind feet, and also between the heels and toes of 

 the feet. The heels of the fore-feet are the most sensi- 

 tive, and need great care because they bear nearly the 

 whole weight and strain. So that in shoeing horses, the 

 nails must not come near them ; and for the same reasons 

 care must be taken not to drive the nails near the toes of 

 the hind-feet, which are also the most sensitive parts. To 

 do all in our power to protect them, the shoes applied 

 must neither be too much curved nor yet too flat, but 

 selected with care and good judgment. 



Chapter IV. explains the manner in which the fore 

 and hind feet should be armed. 



Chapter V. speaks of the calkins [crampons), frost- 



